Dispensing apparatus



c. L. BASTIAN ,nxsrsusmo APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17. 1923 Patented July 2 9, 1924.

CHARLES LxBASTIAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BASTIAN-BLESSING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

epplication filed September 17, 1923. Serial No. 663,052.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAR-ms L. BAsTIAN, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State Fig.- 1. V

,of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage, such as root beer, the main object being to provide an improved apparatus for carbonating and dispensing the beverage as a creamy drink or a liquid drink" depending upon the proper manipulation of the apparatus by the operator.

'A further object of ,the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which facilitates the work of the operator so that drinks of desired creamy. consistency may be drawn. from the apparatus after a minimum amount of ,regulation or adjustment of the apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to' rovide apparatus of the character de-r' scri, ed having improved, means for difl'using the carbonating gas through the beverage which is'to be dispensed.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent-as the detail description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, -wherein- Fig. 1 illustrates a selected embodiment, of my invention, certain parts of the ap paratus being shown in elevation and other parts in section.

.Fig. '2 is a sect-ion taken on line 22 of is an' enlarged detail view of a Fig. 3

a part draught arm or faucet which forms of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a section taken, on line 44 of Fig, 3.

Fig.5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1. In the specific embodiment of my inven- I tion'which-is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. the reference character 10 desigriates a cooling unit to which a carbonated beverage is supplied by a carbonator 11.

The carbonator llfis 'adaptedto be used in connection with a carbonic gas tank (not shown) of usual construction including a valve for regulating the pressure of the gas which flows from the tank. As theconstruction of the carbonic gas tank and its regulating valve doesnot form a part of this difiused through a supply of beverage held in the carbonator and the beverage, after being properly carbonated, is fed under the desired pressure to the cooling unit 10 comprising a plurality of coolers 15 and 16 which re disposed within the barrel 12 and which a e hereinafter more fully described.

The flow of carbonic gas to the carbonator is controlled .by the aforementioned regulating valve of the carbonic gas tank and to some extent by a valve 17 carried by a head 18 rigidly secured to the upper end wall of a substantially cylindrical drum 19, which, together with a base 20 and a cover plate 21, forms a chamber 22 adapted to hold the beverage which isto be carbonated and dispensed. A chamber 23 located in the lower end of the carbonator 11 is separated from the chamber 22 by a partition or wall 24 which preferably comprises a porous artificial stone 25 manufactured of siliceous material. As shown in Fig .1. the artificial stone 25 is preferably disposed between a plurality of perforate plates 26 and 27, 'the perforate plate 26 being held in" place by a ring 28 which, together with the perforateplate 27 and the cover plate 21, is rigidly secured to the base 20 by aplurality of bolts 29. The partition or wall 24 permits carbonic gas to pass from the chamber 23 into the chamber 22, the carbonic gas' being supplied to the chamber'23 by a pipe 30 which communicates at all times with the flexible tube 14; and which also communicates at all times with the chamber 23 through the medium of a T- fitting 31 threaded into an apertured boss formed upon the cover plate 21. The T- Y into the T-fltting.

\ through the wall 24. The chamber 23 may be drained through a pipe 36 which is threaded into an opening 36 in the base 20. A valve 37 is provided for controlling the flow of beverage through the pipe 36.

Depending from the head 18 and disposed substantially central of the substantially cylindrical drum 19 is a pipe 38. The pipe 38 provides means whereby the carbonated beverage may flow from the car'bonator 11 to the cooling unit 10 by way of a tube 39. A valve 40 carried by the head 18 is adapted to control the flow of beverage from the pipe 38 to the pipe 39.

As hereinbefore set forth, the flexible tube 14 is at all times in communication with the pipe 30 (Fig. 6). This construction permits the beverage'to be subjected at all times to the carbonating influence of the gas flowing from the carbonic gas tank, the pressure of the gas being controlled by the regulating valve of the gas tank. The gas which enters the carbonator by way of the flexible tube 14 and the pipe 30 must, of course, pass through the porous stone 25 if it is to carbonate the beverage. However, carbonic gas may be admitted directly to the chamber 22 from the flexible tube 14 by way of a bore 18 formed in the head 18, the valve 17 serving to control the flow of gas from the flexible tube 14 to the bore 18 As best shown in Fig. 6, the head 18 is provided with a filling opening 41 and a vent opening 42, screw threaded plugs 43 and 44 being provided for the openings 41 and 42 respectively. The plugs 43 and 44 are withdrawn, of course, from the openings 41 and 42 when the chamber 22 is to receive a supply of beverage. I prefer to provide a gauge 45 having a sight glass 46 which indicates, at any time, the amount of beverage contained in the chamber 22;

The carbonated beverage which is supplied to the cooling unit 10 through the medium of the tube 39 is admitted to the upper coil of the aforementioned cooler 15. a short section of pipe 47 being interposed between the cooler 15 and the tube 39. The cooler 15 preferably comprises a plurality of coils 48 through which the carbonated beverage must pass before it can be drawn from the draught arm or faucet 13.- It will be noted that the draught arm 13 is connected with the lowermost coil 48 of the cooler 15 by a pipe 50 and a vertically disthe cooler 15 bv way of the riser 51 and that the discharge end of the cooler 16 is connected to the faucet 13 by a short section of pipe 52. The pipe from which the cooler 16 is formed is of small diameter as com,- pared with the diameters of the several coils 48 of the cooler 15. It is apparent that the cooler 16 comprises a. long passage of comparatively small cross sectional area. As shown in the drawing, the pipe from which the cooler 16 is formed and the-pipes 50 and 52 are of substantially the same diameter. The purpose 'of this construction will presently appear.

The pipe 52, which connects the cooler 16 with the faucet 13, communicates with an inlet port 54 provided in the faucet 13 (Figs. land 3). The inlet port 54 is preferably of a diameter substantially larger than the inside diameter of the pipe 52. The pipe 50communicateswith an inlet port 55 which is. also formed in the faucet 13 and which has a cross sectional area substantially less than the cross sectional area of the inlet port 54 but equal tov the inside diameter of the pipe 50. The faucet 13 is also provided with outlet ports 56 and 57, i the outlet port 56 being of a diameter substantially equal'to the diameter of the inlet port 54 and the outlet port 57 being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the inlet port 55. Communication between the inlet ports 54 and 55 and the outlet ports 56 and 57 is controlled 'by a valve 58 carried by a rotatably mounted valve stem 59 which is provided with a handle 60 for the use of the operator. The valve 58 has a passage 61 extending therethrough, the passage 61 being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameters of the inlet port 54 and the outlet port 56. A second passage 62 formed in the valve 58 is of a diameter substantially equal to the diameters of the inletport 55 and the outlet port 57. The outlet ports" 56 and 57 are adapted to discharge through the nozzle 63 of the faucet, the nozzle being provided with a plurality of passageways 64 adapted to prevent swirling of a stream of. beverage flowing from the nozzle.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it is apparent that if the handle 60 is moved to the right (Figs. 1 and 4) until the passage pipe 52, the inlet port 54, the passage 62, the outlet port 56, and the nozzle 63. In

addition to the above described positions of the valve 58, the valve may be moved into positions wherein the inlet port 55 will communicate with the outlet port 56 and wherein the inlet port 54 will communicate with the outlet port. 57. This construction enables the operatorto draw liquid drinks or drinks of varying creamy consistency as hereinafter more fully explained.

The barrel 12 in which the coolers '15 and 16 are disposed-is adapted to hold a quantity of cracked ice which may be packed tightly around the coolers to increase their efiiciency. To vent any gas which may collect in the uppermost coil 48. of the cooler 15, I provide a pipe 66, one end of which communicates with the uppermost coil 48 and the other end of which terminates in a valve 67 dis- 41 and the vent opening 42 in the head 18;

The regulating valve of the carbonic gas tank, the valve 17 and the valve are closed during the filling operation, the regulating valve being opened directly after the plugs 43 and 44 have been replaced in the openings 41 and 42 respectively after a desired amount of beverage has been-supplied to the c'arbonator. It is preferable that the beverage does not completely fill the chamber 22 as it is advantageous to leave a space at the top of the chamber into which space carbonic gas may be later introduced by way of the valve 17 and bore 18. The initial adjustment of the regulating valve of the carbonic gas tank, after the filling operation has been completed, permits the carbonic gas to flow under comparatively high pressure through the flexible tube 14 and the pipe 30 to the chamber 23, the gas then passing through the porous artificial stone 25 into the chamber 22 where it diffuses through the beverage contained in the chamber. The beverage becomes thoroughly saturated with gas four or five minutes after the initial adjustment of the regulating valve and after such saturation the regulating valve is again adjusted toreduce the pressure of the gas flowing to the carbonator. The valves 17 and 46 are then opened and in a moment the apparatus is in a condition to dispense drinks having thedesired characteristics.

If the operator no turns the handle 60 to the right until the passage 62 registers with the outlet port 67, the carbonated beverage 'iwill flow from the cooler 15 through the pipe 50 and through the inlet port 55, the passage 62, the outlet port 57 and the nozzle 63. It is readily understood that the carbonated liquid is then discharged from the outlet port 57 under a pressure equal to the pressure obtaining in the cooler 15. When the beverage under its comparatively high pressure is discharged from the outlet port 57 and strikes the atmosphere, the gas. with which the beverage is saturated immediately expands and its pressure is evolved in an innumerable number of small bubbles. The beverage then takes on an exceedingly creamy consistency as distinguished from a'foamy consistency. A very pleasing drink may thus be obtained. However, if a liquid drinkis desired, it is only necessary to move the handle 60 to the left until the passage 61 registers witlr the outlet port 56. The carbonated beverage will then flow from the cooler 15 through the cooler 16 and through the pipe 52, the inlet port 54,

the passage 62, the outlet port 56 and the nozzle 63, It will be readily understood that the comparativelyjlong passageway ex tending through the cooler 16 coupled with the small diameter of the pipe from which the cooler 16 is formed serves to reduce the pressure 0f the carbonated beverage discharged from the cooler 15 into the cooler 16. In addition to this reduction of pressure by the cooler 16,.the "inlet port 54 permits a further reduction in pressure as it' is of a diameter substantially larger than the'in side diameter of the pipe 52. Therefore, when the carbonated beverage is discharged through the inlet port 54 and outlet port 56 after having passed through the cooler 16, there will not be a sudden expansion of the gas in the beverage when the 1 beverage strikes the atmosphere, the pressure of the gas having been reduced to a comparatively low value. 1

If the valve 58 is moved into positions wherein the inlet port 55 communicates with the outlet port 56 or wherein the inlet port 54 communicates with the outlet port 57, creamy drinks may be drawn from the apparatus, but these drinks will have a foamy characteristic not found in the drinks which may be obtainedby registering the passage 62 with the outlet port 57.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing the advantages of in the scope of the following claims.

' plurality of coolers.

2. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means for supplying beverage under pres sure to the cooler, a second cooler adapted to receive the beverage discharged by the first mentioned cooler, means for drawing the beverage after it has passed through the first mentioned cooler only, and means for drawing the beverage after it has passed through both the first mentioned cooler and the second cooler.

3. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means for supplying beverage under pressure to the cooler, a second cooler, means connecting the first mentioned cooler with the second cooler, means for drawing the beverage after it has passed through the first mentioned cooler only, and means for withdrawing the beverage after it has passed through both the first mentioned cooler and the second cooler.

4. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means for supplying beverage under pressure to the cooler, a second cooler, means connecting the first mentioned cooler with the second cooler, a faucet, means connecting the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler with the faucet, and means connecting the disharge end of the second cooler with the faucet,

5. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, a

second cooler, means connecting the car-- bonator with the first mentioned cooler, means connecting the first mentioned cooler with the second cooler, a faucet, means connecting the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler with the faucet, and means connecting the discharge end of the second cooler with the faucet. V

6. In dispensing apparatus, a plurality of coolers arranged seriatim, means for supplying beverage under pressure to one of the coolers, and a' faucet connected withthe coolers and having means movable to draw the beverage after ,it" has passed 'througheone of the coolers only or after ond mentioned cooler and adapted to draw the beverage after it has passed through both the first mentioned cooler and the second cooler. I

8. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, a

carbonator for supplying carbonated beverage to the cooler, a second cooler arranged seriatim with the first mentioned cooler, and a faucet having two inlet ports, one of the inlet ports communicating with the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler and the other of the inlet ports-communicating with the discharge end of the second cooler.

9. In despensing apparatus, a cooler, a carbonator for supplying carbonated beverage to the cooler, a second cooler arranged seriatim with the first mentioned cooler, a

faucet havingtwo inlet ports, one of the inlet ports communicating with the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler and the other of the inlet ports communicating with the discharge end of the second cooler,

the faucet having movable means for drawing the beverage through one or the other of said ports.

10. In dispensing'apparatus, acooler, a

carbonator for supplying carbonated bev- ,end of the first mentioned cooler, a second inlet port communicating with the discharge end of the second cooler, the second inlet porthaving a large cross sectional area vas compared with the cross sectional area of the first mentioned inlet port, and valve means for selectively controlling the flow of beverage through the inlet ports.

g 12. In dispensing apparatus, the combina tion of a cooler, at carbonator for supplying carbonated beverage to the cooler, a second cooler arranged seriatim with the first mentioned cooler, and a faucet comprising an inlet port communicating with the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler, a, second inlet port communicating with the discharge end of the second cooler, the second inlet port having a large cross sectional area as .compared with the cross sectional area of the first mentioned inlet port, an outlet port having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the first mentioned inlet port, a second outlet having a cross sectional area substant ally ort equal to the cross sectional area of the second inlet port, and valve means for controlling the flow of beverage from said inlet ports to said outlet ports.

13. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means 'for supplying carbonated beverage to the cooler, a second cooler adapted to receive carbonated liquid discharged from saidfirst mentioned cooler and adapted to reduce the pressure of said carbonated beverage as it flows therethrough, a faucet, means connecting the faucet with the discharge end of the first mentioned cooler, and means connecting the faucet with the discharge end of the second cooler.

14. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means for supplying carbonated beverage to the cooler, a second cooler arranged seriabonated beverage as it flows therethrough, a

faucet having a plurality of outlet ports therein, means connecting the discharge end of said first mentioned cooler with one ofsaid outlet ports, and means connectin the discharge end of the second cooler with the other of said outlet ports. v

15. In dispensing apparatus, a cooler, means for supplying a carbonatedbeverage to the cooler, a faucet, means connecting the discharge end of the cooler with the faucet, and a second means connecting the discharge end of the cooler with the faucet including friction means for gradually reducing the pressure of the carbonated beverage.

. CHARLES L. BASTIAN. 

